Operating mechanism for turn-tables.



No, 738,564. PATE'NTED SEPT. 8, 1903.

. J. T. MGGRATH- OPERATING MECHANISM FOR TURN TABLES.

, APPLICATION FILED D30. 10, 1902.

N0 MODEL. I 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Wzfzzesses. A772 re 7210/1 UNITED STATE-s Patented September 8, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

OPERATING MECH A NlSjM'FOR TURN-TABLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 738,564, dated September 8, 1 903.

Application filed December 10, 1902 Serial No. 134,668. (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN THOMAS MO- GRATH, of the city of Port Huron, in the county of St. Clair, in the State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Operating Mechanism for Turn-Tables, of which the following is a speci fication.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in operating mechanisms for turn-tables; and the object of the invention is to devise a driving means for a turntable which will permit of the variation in po sition of the load and yet will always provide a high and positive means of turning the turntable through the medium of the driving wheel having a positive grip on the circular rail and at the same time provide a positive and effectual means for stopping the rotation of the turn-table andit consists, essentially, of the construction hereinafter set forth.

Turn-tables when light are balanced on a pivotal support, neither end touching the circular tramway or rail. When a load, suchas a locomotive, is run upon them, either one of the ends rests upon the rail in case the load is not brought to balance, making the usual three-point support, including the center and the two tram-wheels of the lowered end, or else the table is sprung so that both ends rest upon the rail. In this latter case only three of the four wheels may be touching. In any case it is obvious that any one of the wheels which form the support for the end of the turn-table may be clear of the rail under ordinary working conditions, and it is also evident that the center bearing may be so deflected as to throw any driving device located there out of position. Obviously any motor which depends for its driving powers upon the adhesion of any one of the truck-wheels I to the tram-rail is liable at any time to be inoperative, and it is with the object of avoiding these many objections that my invention is particularly designed.

Figure 1 is a View, partially in elevation A represents the main frame of a device embodying the principal features of my invention. This frame preferably comprises two parallel plates or bolsters a, located at their ends a sufficient distance apart to permit a driving-wheel B to be suitably journaled between them. to rest upon and engage the surface of the curved rail of any turn-table to which the device may be attached, as O. The periphery of saiddriving-wheel is a sufficient width to project beyond the face of the rail, and this portion of the periphery is provided with gearteeth 0, although obviously a drivinggear may be rigidly connected to said wheel in any preferred manner. Said gear-teeth are connected by a gear-train D to a motor E, which is suitablysecured to one of the bols tor-plates a. Said motor maybe of any reversible type adapted to be driven by steam,compressed air,or the like. Said main frame A is so secured to the turn-table as to perm it movement between the plates. As shown herein, and preferably, the ends of the main frame or bolster-plates remote from the driving-wheel B are pivotally secured to the end of the turntable, transfertable, or the like, so that the main wheel will rest upon the tramway of the turn-table in proper position for driving the latter. In the present instance the bolts or plates, and consequently the wheel B, are practically swung on the axle e of the tram-wheel c. It will of course be understood that on the opposite side of the end of the turn-table shown in the drawings suitable supporting tram-wheels are provided, and likewise the opposite end of the turn-table beyond the central pivot is also provided with suitable tram-wheels. I do not, however, show the full construction of the turntable, for the reason that the construction of such tables is commonly known. The cylinder F is closed at both ends, is mounted perpendicularly on said frame,and is provided with a piston f, of any preferred design. A piston-stem extends from said piston through either head of said cylinder. The upper end f of said piston-stem is so placed as to contact with any suitable part of the main frame of the turn-table when forced upwardly. The lower end f of said piston-stem is provided Said driving-wheel is adaptedwith a shoe f so placed as to ride upon and t engage the upper surface of the tram-rail when the piston is forced downward. Pipes G and G lead from either end of said cylinder through a suitable controlling two-Way cock g to any convenient source of supply. In case it is desired to actuate the device from the boiler of a locomotive which may be upon the turn-table or from the air-brake of the comotive said pipes G and G are connected to an idle main secured to the turn-table and provided at either end with the usual Westinghouse hose-coupling, by which the main can be readily connected to the locomotive, air-brake fittings, or steam-dome. The motor E is likewise connected by pipes H and H through a reversing two-way cook it to the same main, so that the motor may be driven, as indicated, in either direction.

The operation'of the device is as follows: When it is desired to move the turn-table, the motive fluid is admitted at the lower end of the piston, so as to force the upper end of the stemfagainst the turn-table frame, thereby forcing the driving-wheel firmly down against the tram-rail. The motor may then beset in motion in either direction through its controlling-cock h. When itis desired to arrest the motion of the turn-table, the motive fluid is admitted at the upper end of the cylinder, and the shoe f at the lower end of the stem is forced against the tram -rail, acting as a brake, while at the same time the traction-wheel of'the motor is lifted from the ,rail, thereby insuring absolute and instant control of the motion of the turn-table.

It will be understood that the usual draincocks and other similar fittings are applied to the device and that obviously the mechan ical details of the device may be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention, and the applicant does not limit himself to any particular form or arrangement of parts.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. An operating mechanism for turn-tables comprising a power-driven tractionwheel contacting with the tram-rail of a turn-table and means between the turn-table and wheel adapted to adj ustably hold said wheel against said rail substantially as specified.

2. An operating mechanism for turn-tables comprising a power-driven traction-wheel contacting with the tram-rail of a turn-table, means adjustably connecting said wheel to said turn-table, and means adapted to force said wheel against said rail as specified.

3. An operating mechanism for turn-tables comprising a powerdriven traction -wheel adapted to contact with a tram-rail of a turntable, means operatively connecting said wheel to said turn-table and means adapted to press said wheel against said rail as specified.

4. An operating mechanism for turn-tables comprising a main frame, a power-driven traction-wheel revolubly secured in the main frame, adapted to contact with the tram-rail of a turn-table and means on said main frame adapted to force said wheel against said rail as specified.

5. An operating mechanism for tu rn-tables comprising a main frame, a traction -wheel revolubly secured therein adapted to contact with the tram-rail of a turn-table, a motor on said frame for actuating said traction-wheel and means on said frame engaging said turntable adapted to hold said wheel against said rail as specified.

6. An operating mechanism for turn-tables comprising a frame pivotally secured at one end of the turn-table, a traction-wheel revolubly mounted on the other end of said frame,

contacting with the tram-rail of the turn-table and means on said frame engaging the turn-table adapted to force said wheel against the tram-rail as specified.

7. An operating mechanism for turn-tables comprising a main frame pivotally secured at one end to a turn-table, a traction-wheel revolubly secured to the other end of said frame contacting with a tram-rail of the turntable, a motor on said frame for actuating said traction-wheel and means on said main frame adapted to engage said turn-table and force said wheel against the tram-rail as specified.

8. An operating mechanism for turn-tables comprising a main frame pivotally secured at one end to a turn-table, a traction-wheel revolubly secured in the other end of said frame, contacting with the tram-rail of the turn-table, a motor on said frame pivotallyconnected to said traction wheel, means on said frame adapted to engage said turn-table and force said wheel against the tram-rail, and toengage said rail and raise said wheel from the tram-rail as specified.

9. An operating mechanism for turn-tables comprising a main frame pivotally secured at one end to a turn-table, a traction-wheel revolubly secured in the other end of said frame contacting with the tram-rail of the turn-table, a motor on said frame operatively connected to said traction-wheel, a cylinder secured on said frame, a piston reciprocal in said cylinder provided with an upwardly-extending stem adapted to engage the turn-table when said piston is forced upwardly, and a downwardly-extending stem adapted to engage the tram-rail when said piston is forced downward as specified.

10. An operating mechanism for turn-tables comprising a main frame adapted to be pivotally secured at one end to a turn-table, a traction wheel revolubly secured in the other end of said frame contacting with the tram-rail of a turn-table, a motor on said frame operatively connected to said tractionwheel, a cylinder on said frame provided with a reciprocating piston having an upwardlyextending stem adapted to engage the turntable when said piston is raised, and a downwardly-extending stem adapted to rest upon the tram-rail of the turn-table when said piston is depressed,and valve-connecting pipe on said turn-table adapted to admit compressed air or the like to said motor and to either end of said cylinder, at will as specified.

11. An operating mechanism for turn-ta bles comprising a frame pivotally secured near one end to a turn-table, a traction-wheelrevolubly secured in said frame adapted to cally movable with relation'to the turn-table, and means for driving the traction-wheel,

substantially as described.

13. The combination with a turn-tablaof a train-Wheel located at one side thereof, a traction-wheel on the same side of the turntable pivotally swung from the axle of the train-wheel to have vertical movement with relation to the turn-table, and meansforoperating said traction-Wheel, substantially as described.

14. In an operating mechanism for turn-tables, the combination with the tram wheel and axle thereof, of a traction-wheel swung on the axle of the tram-wheel, means for driving such traction-wheel and means for raising the traction-Wheel from the rail and at the same time exerting a brake-pressure on 3 5 such rail as and for the purpose specified.

JOHN THOMAS MOGRATH. Witnesses:

J NO. HODGSON, RICHARD EVANS. 

